Equity Estates Adds Dennis Rasmussen To Executive Team

By: Destination Club News
Date: April 12, 2010

Opening day festivities are in full celebration throughout Major League Baseball and have even trickled down to the destination club industry as Equity Estates has announced that they have named former pitcher Dennis Rasmussen as their new Vice President of Investor Relations.

"We are thrilled to have Dennis Rasmussen joining our team and its pretty fitting that he pitched for the Yankees since my business partner and Co-Founder, Philip Mekelburg grew up in New York and remembers watching him at Yankee Stadium," said Adam Capes, Co-Founder of Equity Estates. "Since his days as a professional athlete, Dennis has stayed closely involved with MLB alumni as well as other professional athlete organizations. This involvement, as well as his strong work ethic, competitive drive and business savvy will have an enormous impact on our efforts to attract new owner members."

As mentioned by Capes, Rasmussen spent time with the Yankees as well as time with the San Diego Padres, Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs, and Kansas City Royals during his 91-77 career. Following retirement, Rasmussen went on to serve as a pitching coach for the Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox. In 2000, he began working with "a small niche of high net worth clientele" that Equity Estates likely has a keen eye on.

"My background in securities means that I really understand how this model works," said Rasmussen. "I’ve owned a second home before and know the headaches that go along with it. The Equity Estates business model is unique because it allows our owner members to vacation in a variety of destinations while actually owning the portfolio of residences. It’s an ideal model for current as well as former players and their families. I believe in it so much that I’m becoming an owner member myself."

Averaging over $3 million per year and with long off seasons, baseball players make for strong destination club candidates in regards to earnings and available travel schedules. Hopefully, Rasmussen can leverage his time in securities with his ties to current and former players to help Equity Estates on their demonstrated success over recent years.

The destination club sector has become rife with athlete members and spokespersons over the past several years. The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club announced late last month that Hall of Fame Golfer Annika Sorenstam would serve as an ambassador for their brand. Sticking with golf, Destination Cellars counts two young up and comers in their sponsorship ranks: Meaghan Francella and Parker McLachlin. McLachlin had previously served on the Players Council with the golf focused destination club The Markers. The world's second largest destination club, Ultimate Escapes, has most all of the major sports taken care of with Hall of Fame Quarterback Steve Young, NBA Champion head coach Doc Rivers, and World Series Champion Coach and Olympic medalist Davey Johnson.

What do you think these spokespersons and members add to their respective destination clubs? We would love your insight. Please feel free to add your two cents by contacting us at contribute@destinationclubnews.com.